New casino?

[Jon Dalton]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

I wonder if council is as resolved in this stand as they were for the West Harbour stadium.

As in, not actually very resolved? I think you're right. This issue is coming back in a big way and there will be bids for other locations.

I heard a rumour Mercanti is looking at the waterfront near Centennial now for a future casino bid. Any possible truth to this?

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

I heard a rumour Mercanti is looking at the waterfront near Centennial now for a future casino bid. Any possible truth to this?

Interesting. I wonder if they'd try to tie in with the Confederation Park plan (there's really no other spot on the water) or put something just south of the QEW, perhaps replace that sad plaza next to the Holiday Inn.

[Beedok]

I hope so. That's probably the best spot for sucking up GTA gamblers and not affecting the urban core.

[matt602]

I'd be on board with that.

[coalminecanary]

I still think the casino math is completely disingenuous on the part of OLG and will create more problems than it solves no matter where it goes. But if there was a waterfront casino I bet we'd get a casino bus route that would be pretty convenient for accessing the waterfront trail

[markbarbera]

If council was against a stadium going in at Confederation Park because it did not fit in to their plans for Confederation Park area, I can't see how they could see a casino as a better fit .Then again, who knows what Council is thinking recently. It's notlike they have shown any consistency on any number of issues.

[thistleclub]

There's a Trillium Foundation joke in here somewhere.

[thistleclub]

OLG PR:

Procurement Update
(Mar 3 2014)

TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is providing two separate procurement notifications today.

The first is the Request for Information (RFI) for a potential privately-funded multi-purpose event centre in Niagara Falls closed today.

The RFI was launched on December 12, 2013. The RFI submissions OLG has received will help it gauge interest in the marketplace for developing and financing a potential Niagara Entertainment Centre that is similar to, or larger in size and scale than facilities at Caesars Windsor and Casino Rama.

The second notification is that OLG is extending the closing date for the Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) for the GTA Gaming Bundle to May 8, 2014. OLG will issue an addendum to the RFPQ on the procurement website MERXTM in the coming weeks, which will provide further details.

In order to protect the integrity of the procurement process, OLG will not provide further details about the addendum until it is posted on MERXTM and available to all proponents at the same time.

RFPQs for the West GTA and Central Gaming Bundles will close as scheduled on March 13, 2014.

[thistleclub]

OLG PR:

RFPQs for West GTA and Central Gaming Bundles Close

TORONTO, ON, March 13, 2014 – Today, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) marks the close of the Requests for Pre-Qualification (RFPQs) for the West GTA and Central Gaming Bundles. The RFPQs were issued on December 12, 2013.

OLG is now in active procurement across the province. With the closing of the RFPQs for the West GTA and Central Gaming Bundles, OLG will undertake its due diligence in evaluating the submissions.

From the RFPQ submissions, OLG will select the service providers eligible to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) document for each Gaming Bundle.

Interested service providers were required to submit proposals for the entire Gaming Bundle as set out in the RFPQs, not for individual Gaming Zones or Gaming Sites contained within the Gaming Bundle.

As announced on March 3, 2014, OLG has extended the RFPQ submission deadline for the GTA Gaming Bundle to May 8, 2014. OLG will be posting an addendum to the GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ in the coming weeks. In order to protect the integrity of the procurement process, OLG will not provide further details about the addendum until it is posted on MERX and available to all proponents at the same time.

OLG expects to begin issuing gaming RFP documents in the coming months.

[thistleclub]

GTA, not GTA West, but still a development that changes the dynamics a bit.

Addendum to GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ Posted to MERX™

TORONTO, ON, April 1, 2014 – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted an addendum to the GTA Gaming Bundle Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) on the procurement website, MERX™.

OLG is taking steps to include criteria within its ongoing procurement process to address support for horse racing sustainability and the integration of horse racing into provincial gaming, within current federal and provincial legislative frameworks. The addendum states that GTA RFPQ submissions now require details related to applicants’ experience with horse racing activities.

Applicants are asked to provide three examples of horse racing experience relevant to the opportunity as set out in the GTA Gaming Bundle. The examples must be from a current operation or one operated within the last 10 years. The examples must also be related to the experience of a prime team member associated with the submission.

On March 3, 2014, OLG announced it was extending the submission deadline for the GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ to May 8, 2014.

[thistleclub]

And from Great Canadian Gaming Corp.:

RICHMOND, BC, April 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Great Canadian Gaming Corporation [TSX:GC] ("Great Canadian" or "the Company") announced today that it has signed agreements with five other Ontario racetrack operators and the Ontario Racing Commission ("ORC") in support of the Horse Racing Partnership Plan that was previously announced by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in October 2013. These agreements establish an unprecedented standardbred alliance (the "Standardbred Alliance") amongst a core group of race tracks centered around the concentrated horse supply in Central and South Western Ontario and provide better stability and clarity for all industry stakeholders.

The Standardbred Alliance members represent a three-tier racing hierarchy, 'Grass Roots' (Clinton Raceway, Hanover Raceway), 'Signature' (Flamboro Downs, Georgian Downs, Grand River Raceway and The Raceway at Western Fair) and 'Premier' (Mohawk Racetrack and Woodbine Racetrack). The Standardbred Alliance has worked closely with government, regulators and industry participants to develop a racing plan that will see a coordinated year-round racing calendar that is attractive to both foreign and domestic customers, provides for consistent purse levels at each track, and enables enhanced operational efficiencies among the tracks.

Under a new five-year horse racing program that will be administered by the ORC, the Company's Georgian Downs and Flamboro Downs racetracks will receive provincial funding for their racing purses. In addition, under the terms of the revenue sharing agreements amongst the Standardbred Alliance members, the racetracks' pari-mutuel revenues will be pooled and shared amongst the tracks. These agreements are not expected to have a material financial impact on the Company's Ontario Racetrack operations and have replaced the horse racing transition funding that was previously received by the Company's Ontario racetracks from the Government of Ontario during the twelve months ended March 31, 2014.

"We are excited to continue to host live horse racing at both Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs," stated Mr. Rod N. Baker, Great Canadian's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The finalization of these agreements is good news for the future of horse racing in Ontario. We are committed to working with the provincial government and the Standardbred Alliance on implementing a long-term, sustainable model for racing in the province."

[thistleclub]

Depending on how you read this, the Minister of Finance may have just opened the door for more gaming.

Addenda to Six Gaming Bundle RFPQs Posted to MERX™

TORONTO, ON, April 10, 2014 – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted addenda to six Gaming Bundle Requests for Pre-Qualification (RFPQs) on the procurement website, MERX™. The Gaming Bundles are: North, East, Ottawa area, Southwest, Central and West GTA.

The addenda relate to the application of Regulation 81/12 of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act, 1999 to the introduction of table games and electronic games (slot machines) at existing, new and relocated gaming sites.

The addenda state that the introduction of table games at existing sites is subject to the provisions of the Regulation.

The addenda further clarify that the introduction of table games and electronic games at any relocated or new gaming site is also subject to the provisions of the Regulation.

Throughout the procurement process, OLG has engaged the services of a professional Fairness Monitor to provide oversight and advice to support integrity and fairness. The Fairness Monitor has reviewed the addenda.

[thistleclub]

Hamilton is in the West GTA bundle, but this is still interesting. Via OLG PR:

GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ Submission Deadline Extended

TORONTO, ON / April 22, 2014 – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted an addendum on the procurement website, MERX™, which extends the submission deadline for the GTA Gaming Bundle Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ).

The previous deadline for the RFPQ was May 8, 2014. Applicants will now have until June 12, 2014 to provide OLG with RFPQ submissions.

On April 1, 2014, OLG posted an addendum to the RFPQ on MERX™ in order to include a requirement for details related to applicants’ experience with horse racing activities.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^I've got 'casino fatigue.' I no longer understand what's happening. It might as well be written in Arabic.

[ScreamingViking]

I caught this property tax issue regarding the Niagara casinos on the news the other day. Take any potential Hamilton relevance from it that you want.

Revisit casino property tax assessment: Region and City
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-...gion-and-city/

Province asked to intervene in Falls casino issue
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/201...s-casino-issue

[markbarbera]

That is a perfect example of how broke the property tax assessment system is. MPAC's property assessment system is seriously flawed. Hamilton has taken a hit on reassessment of industrial property in the past, and likely will again should something like U.S. Steel's property get reassessed. Property tax on commercial properties should be based on a combination of a per-acre rate and charge-backs for the cost of services delivered to the property and not the perceived market value of property. Of course, instead of addressing the real issue of a broken property assessment system, this specific case will inevitably be spun as another "casinos are bad" straw man argument.

[thistleclub]

Via the Auditor General of Ontario, a special report on Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Modernization Plan.

Extracts:

Figure 3 shows the responses of the affected municipalities to the casino site proposals after the Modernization Plan was released, as well as the status of the proposals as of March 31, 2014. Most large municipalities, including those in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener and Waterloo, have not approved OLG’s proposals for either a new casino or for relocating existing slots at racetracks to more densely populated urban area....

Figure 3: Proposed New Gaming Facilities and Municipalities’ Responses
OLG Proposal: Replace slots at Flamboro Downs (Hamilton) with casino in downtown Hamilton
Original Timeline: Winter 2015
Municipal Council Response: Hamilton voted in favour of a casino, with its first preference at Flamboro Downs but, if not viable, then in another Hamilton location
Status, March 31, 2014: OLG in the process of procuring a private-sector operator....

Assumption: Municipal councils will approve OLG’s plans to either relocate slot facilities at racetracks or build new casinos in more populated urban areas of cities. There will be no changes in the plans for new casinos. OLG’s projections were based on relocating six slots at racetracks, relocating one casino and building six new casinos at locations closer to potential urban customers. In 2013, large municipalities (GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, Waterloo) rejected OLG’s plans. As well, OLG is no longer pursuing a new casino in Cornwall
Amount of $4,624 Million Projection at Risk if Assumption Unrealized: $593 million

According to the report, the sum total of the OLG's overly optimistic assumptions, if unrealized, stand to punch a $2.2 billion-$2.8 billion hole in the province's projected revenues.

As of March 31, 2014, at least. Significantly, the e-bingo loophole was opened 10 days after the period reviewed by the province's Auditor General.

And FWIW, “The mailbox belonging to Delta Bingo Hamilton is full and cannot accept any more messages.”

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

^I've got 'casino fatigue.' I no longer understand what's happening. It might as well be written in Arabic.

There's a few things going on in Hamilton and Ottawa that I have lost all will to follow anymore. They're just running in circles.

[thistleclub]

@TedMcMeekin tweets:

Hamilton Council chose to embrace Flamboro Downs as for any future casino development. I support the direction of Council #hamont #adfw

Even allowing for garbled syntax, this is selective recall. The AG's report notes as much in a footnote to section 5.1 (Consultations With Municipalities On New Casinos), which reads:

"Hamilton has indicated that it would prefer to have its gaming facility remain at Flamboro Downs, but if that is not viable, the municipality is willing to consider relocating it somewhere else in Hamilton."

[thistleclub]

A closer read of the Auditor General's report reveals that the OLG hoped to open 10 new gaming facilities by late 2015 (18 months after the Slots at Racetracks Agreement was ended), with two gaming facilities more following in late 2016. Had the province not stepped in with withdrawal funds, and OLG payouts dried up, it’s not hard to imagine that municipalities might have voted differently. As it stands, the"transition funding" ends in the fall of 2018, around the same time the interim arrangement ends at Flamboro Downs.

As Figure 1 in the report reminds us, the OLG also plans a slate of new gaming options that require little to no municipal buy-in: internet gaming (originally slated for late 2011, revised to Sept 2014), completing the conversion of 22 remaining bingo halls to electronic bingo centres (originally slated for Dec 2013, revised to Mar 2015) and expansion of lottery ticket sales to large multi-lane retail outlets (late 2015).